Additional foot and mouth disease vaccines for Uganda

Entebbe |Egypt has generously donated additional Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines to Uganda.

The consignment received at Entebbe International Airport contained 2.5 million doses. Maj Gen David Mugisha, Commander of the Special Forces, officially received it on Thursday.

Gen Mugisha represented Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

The event was also attended by Col McDans Kamugira, the CDF’s Military Assistant, as well as Egyptian representatives such as MEVAC Sales Manager Dr. Amgad Nagy.

Nagy works for the Egyptian Agriculture Ministry, and Egypt’s Defence Attaché to Uganda, Brig Gen Mohamed Embaby, was also present.

This is the third consignment of FMD vaccines from Egypt. First and second donations of 3 million doses reached Uganda in May and July this year.

The initial batches were received in the presence of Gen Kainerugaba, who is also the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, and the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), Frank Tumwebaze.

The FMD outbreak has prompted quarantines in 32 districts across Uganda, causing significant disruption in the cattle corridor.

Uganda’s total susceptible livestock population requires 44 million doses of FMD vaccines each year, necessitating a biannual vaccination program costing approximately $176 million per year.

The recent shipments from Egypt are expected to significantly support Uganda’s vaccination efforts.

In October, the CDF met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Cairo, where they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in a variety of sectors.

To help the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) improve domestic vaccine production, the Egyptian government has also previously donated equipment.

The districts of Luwero, Gomba, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, and Sembabule are among those impacted by FMD.